At first glance, Ducati has every reason to savor its return to the forefront. Two consecutive victories for Marc Marquez, Pecco Bagnaia once again capable of winning sprint races and racking up podium finishes, a Desmosedici that has reclaimed its position as the benchmark on circuits as different as Balaton Park and Brno: the Italian manufacturer is probably enjoying its best period since the start of the season. And yet, listening closely to Gigi Dall'Igna in Brno, one discovers a surprisingly cautious, almost wary, tone regarding the prevailing euphoria.
The Director General of Ducati Corse He obviously doesn't deny the excellent current momentum. He simply notes that many are already rushing to present the resurgence of Marc Marquez as a direct consequence of the difficulties encountered by Aprilia.
A reading he rejects. Without a doubt, Aprilia has had a lot of bad luck in these last two races »
The sentence avoids any form of triumphalism. Where some might be tempted to reduce the championship gap to the suspension of Marco Bezzecchi or to the penalty imposed on George MartinDall'Igna points to a more nuanced reality: Aprilia remains an extremely solid opponent and its recent difficulties should not obscure the level shown since the start of the season.
But at the same time, the boss of Ducati refuses just as much as anyone who downplays the work done in Borgo Panigale. I think we've done our part, in the sense that the motorcycle works well on many circuits. And our drivers too, because there are many of them riding at the front, not just Marc. »
For Dall'Igna, the fundamental difference between Ducati and its rivals lie in the depth of its system. Marc Marquez wins. Pecco Bagnaia wins as well. Fabio Di Giannantonio remains consistently at the forefront. In other words, the results are not based on a single individual or a favorable set of circumstances. They are based on a technical and athletic team capable of performing well every weekend.
The Italian leader, moreover, insists on this point. Pecco also won the sprint on Saturday and has four consecutive podium finishesWe fight for the positions that matter, and right now, that's the most important thing for us. »
À Brno like a Balaton ParkThe Italian manufacturer has shown that it has several cards up its sleeve. And in a championnat However long this diversity may be, it often constitutes a decisive weapon.
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Gigi Dall’Igna: “ For me, Pecco also has the possibility of winning »
However, the most interesting part of his speech undoubtedly concerns his reflection on the notion of luck. While many explain the spectacular comeback of Marquez through the chain of misfortunes that befalls Aprilia, Dall'Igna adopts a much more global vision.
« I've always thought that bad luck, by the end of the year, more or less evens out. We had our share of bad luck in the first part of the season, so if a bit of good luck is on our side now, No one can say anything about that »
For him, a world championship is never just a few isolated incidents. Over an entire season, injuries, retirements, technical problems, or human errors generally end up being distributed among the various contenders.
The key, therefore, is less about counting strokes of bad luck than about ensuring that the bike and the team are ready when opportunities arise. And that is precisely what seems to satisfy the Italian manager today. We worked hard and adjusted some details of the motorcycle that we felt weren't working well enough. »
For many months, Ducati He repeatedly stated that certain aspects of the Desmosedici did not offer the expected level of performance. Recent successes suggest that several solutions have been found.
However, Dall'Igna categorically refuses to consider the work finished. We still have a lot of work to do before we reach the end of the season.. » This caution reappears when he is questioned about the championship.
While Marquez is now only forty points away from Marco Bezzecchi and that momentum now seems to be on the side of DucatiMany expect the team to focus all its resources on the Spaniard.
Gigi Dall'Igna immediately dismisses this idea. For me, Pecco also has the possibility of winning »
A striking statement: in his view, the championship has not become a duel. Marquez-Aprilia. bagnaia remains a major player in the equation.
And as long as mathematics allows, Ducati intends to preserve its two trump cards. The most important thing is to have both drivers in the best possible condition to fight during the races, above all. We'll think about the World Championship later — it's not the time to do the math yet. »
Ultimately, what emerges from all of his statements on Sky SportsIt's an impression of methodical serenity. Where many see a championship disrupted by the incidents ofAprilia and by the spectacular rise of BrandzGigi Dall'Igna continues to reason like an engineer.
He doesn't talk about revenge, miracles, or even titles. He talks about work, data, balance, and progress. And perhaps that's precisely what makes it so special. Ducati just as dangerous today. Because while the whole paddock starts looking at the standings, those who run the Italian brand still seem to be looking at the motorcycle.
